Descriptions of Krishna

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Krishna, playing His flute on the bank of the Yamuna River

Vedic writings say that Krishna has a stunningly beautiful spiritual form (Krishna means "all-attractive"), He plays a flute, His complexion is like a dark rain cloud, He wears peacock feathers in His long, black, curly hair, the soles of His feet are decorated with auspicious symbols, His voice is like rumbling thunder, and a unique gem—Kaustubha—hangs around His neck, along with a garland of ever-fresh flowers, attracting bees humming Vedic hymns.

Other accounts say that Krishna's enchanting smile is irresistible, as are His attractively moving eyebrows. His clothing is compared to lightning. His wide eyes, delicate hands, reddish-soled feet, and His deep navel often draw comparisons to the beauty of lotus flowers. The luster of His dazzling toenails is compared to moonlight, and He always appears in the fullness of youth.

One of Krishna’s names is adhokshaja, He who is beyond the material senses. It's easy for us to see matter. The Supreme Person is 100% spiritual, and we need spiritual vision to be able to see Him. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that He keeps a curtain of illusion (maya) between Himself and those who have no affection for Him.

Any descriptions of the Supreme Being may seem incredible unless we consider that the ultimate source of everything, the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Person, God, is also the origin of all forms. Our forms in the material world are temporary, changeable, and often causes of misery, but the Absolute Truth is eternal, unchanging, and blissful. Contrary to impersonalist philosophy, He is always a person. The Supreme Person is the archetype of all forms—His form is most beautiful of all—and by practicing Krishna consciousness we can become qualified to see Krishna for ourselves, face to face.

"Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all living entities, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form."

Brahma-samhita, 5.30:
“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock's feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.”

"In Dvapara-yuga the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears with a dark blue complexion, wearing yellow garments. The Lord’s transcendental body is marked in this incarnation with Srivatsa and other distinctive ornaments, and He manifests His personal weapons."

“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, ‘round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of Shyamasundara is eternally manifest.”

"Krishna's body, as confirmed by Brahma-samhita and confirmed by Krishna Himself in Bhagavad-gita, is completely spiritual and full of bliss and eternality. His body is never like a material body. . . those who are actually in the Vedic line hear about Krishna from authority, and by repeated hearing about Him, Krishna becomes dear. As we have several times discussed, Krishna is covered by His yoga-maya potency. He is not to be seen or revealed to anyone and everyone. Only by one to whom He reveals Himself can He be seen."

“Although the Lord is by nature very beautiful due to the perfect figure of His transcendental body, He would dress Himself in yellow garments and put on His necklace of Kaustubha jewels. He would wear flower garlands, smear His body with the pulp of sandalwood and decorate Himself with similar cosmetics and ornaments. It is said that the ornaments themselves became beautiful upon being placed on the transcendental body of the Lord.."

"Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, was impersonal before and have now assumed this personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme."